Apparatus for mercurial decomposition of alkaline chlorids.



R. FRANK. APPARATUS FOR MBRUURIAL DECOMPOSITION 0F ALKALINE CHLORIDE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. 1911.

1 ,O O9,06 1 V Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

2 SHEETS-EH11!!! 1.

f7/fornrgm R. FRANK. APPARATUS FOR MBRCURIAL DECOMPOSITION OF ALKALINE CHLOBIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.30,1E|11.

1,009,061; Patented Nbv.21,1911.

;Z /?665" Jenn for: (3314;; Hi 11101; O M95311) RUDOLF FRANK. OF GRUNIEW'ALD, NBAB BERLIN, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR MERCURIAI. DECOMPOSITION OF ALKALINE CHLORIDS.

Application filed. Jnlluary 3 Specification of Letters Patent.

lnt'ontml Nov. 21, 1911.

0. 1911. Serial No. 605,416.

llt

hr varying the speed of the drums E, E. hen the drums E, E are uniformly rotated the movement of the mercury is continuous and uniform, and an interruption of the movement or an unequal distribution of the mercury is avoided. For this movement only a minimum of power is required. The mercury from the cell IV flows through the slot beneath the partition 0 into the electrolytic amal amating compartment I where it is enric led with the cathion, the generated amalgam being conveyed throu h the slot under the partition C into the (Ibcomposiug compartment III. In this com pa rtment or cell the amalgam is decomposed by the water contained therein and sodium hydrate enerated thereby. This action may be aided by the use of short-circuited secondary electrodes, such as hereinbefore described. The regenerated mcrcury'flows through the slot under the patrtition G into the electrolytic cell or amalgamating compartment ll where it is again enriched with amalgam which enters into the compartment IV throughthe slot under the partition C, where the amalgam is-decoinpo sed as in the compartment or cell III. The chlorin gas generated during the decompo sition in the compartments I and II as well as the hydrogen generated in the compartments III and IV are led away by any suit able conduits.

Refcrrin npw to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings: 11 'these constructions the vessel A is divided into only three compartments I, II and III by means of transverse partitions H, the bottom of the vessel having grooves H below the partitions H in the manner described with reference to I i s. 1 and 2. The compartments I and IIv are connected together by a pipe or conduit A which may either pass below the vessel A (Fig. 3) or be arranged laterally thereof (Fig. 4). The layer of mercury in the vessel A is propelled from the compartment. I through the compart nent II to the com {mrtinentiII and fro thence returned to the compartment I by way of the conduit A (or vice-versa) by means of ribbed or fluted drums J rotatably mounted in the, compartments I and III and workin in cavities therein in the manner describe with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the drums J being rotated in the same direction by means of a belt passing over pulleys K on the axles of the drums J. In order to accelerate the decomposition of the amalgam, the drums J may be hollow and heated by steam, steam inlet-pipes and outlet pipes L being p1. vided for this purpose.

As shown at Figs. 5 and 6 two such vessels A and A may be connected together, the

compartment III of one vessel A communieating with the compartment I of the vessel 'A by way of a pipe or conduit A and the aerating drums.

compartment III of the vessel A communicating with the compartment I of the vessel A by way of av pipe or conduit X said pipes or conduits A and X being either arranged below (Fig. 5), or latcrall of (Fig. (3), the vessels A and it, the vessels A and A being arranged with their bottom surfaces in the same horizontal plane. In these constructions the mercury from the con'ipartment Ill of the vessel A will be delivered to the compartment 1 of the vessel A while the mercury from the compartment III of the vessel A will be delivered to the compartment I of the vessel A.

It will thus be seen that in all these constructions the mercury is not lifted from one level to another but is propelled in a closed circuit in a horizontal plane.

Apparatus according to the invention havev the great advantage that the mercury does not flow over any oblique surface but forms a single very thin horizontal layer which is not raised by any com licatcd lift.- ing device, but is uniformly 'mropellcd by The individual compartments or cells may have any desired size. It will be evident that the compartments or cells III and IV may be employed as amal' gamating compartments and the compartments I and II as mercury regeneratin cells. It is also evident that any desire number of compartments or cells may be used provided that between each two electrolytic cells there is a mercury regenerating cell, in which the rotating drum E for propelling the mercury may be arranged.

1. In an apparatus for the mercurial decompt'isition of alkaline chlorids, a vessel containing the mercury and having a horizontal bottom, partitions in said vessel. dividing the same. into amalgamating and deamalgamatina compartments which alternate with and are in communication with one another below said. partitions, a cavity in the bottom of said vessel and mechanical means for propelling the mercury over the bottom of said vessel through said com artments in a horizontal plane and in a c osed circuit without lifting the mercury, said means comprising a ribbed drum fitting in said cavity and adapted to be rotated.

2. In an apparatus for the mercurial decomposition of alkaline chlorids, a Vessel containing the mercury and having a horizontal bottom, partitions in said vessel dividing the same into amalgamating and deamalgamating compartments which alternate with and are in communication with one another below said partitions, a cavity in the bottom of said vessel and in said deamalgamating com artment, and mechanical means for prope ling, the mercu over the bottom of said vessel through sai compartments in a horizontal plane and in a Plost'tl ('ll'ttlil' without lifting the nun-vary, saitl moans (-tnnpiising a i'ihliaitl tli'ltin fitting in suit] Pavity antl arlaptvtl to he rotatt-tl.

3. In an apparatus for tho nan-(atrial do Composition of alkaline chloritls, a vessel containing;- the ltttl'fllly and having a hori' Zontal hottoin partitions in saitl vessel (1ivitling tho same into amalgamating and Lieamalgainating compartments which alt01'-' natv with and are in vonnnnmvatinn with i one another llQl()\V said partitions, a cavity in the bottom of said \vssvl and in said cloainalgamating ountpartlnvnt, invt-haniral means for pi'opvlling tlw nlvi'cruny ()Ytl lllt bottom of saitl Vosst-l through saitl compart- 1 merits in a horizontal plano without lilting the niort'ul'y. saill inn-ans ('mnpi'ising a I'llllfitl tltltlll fitting in Haiti t-avity antl adapted to ho l'otatot'l, illt l a ttliltltlll for returning the mortally to the rarity so as to form a t'iUS tl (innit for the inoivin-y.

4. In an apparatus for the lllt'l'tttt'llll 1h:-

ltUltpU itiiHt()l alkaline chlorids, a series of amalgamating and tleanialgalnating conipattint-nts alternating With and in bommnniration with one another and each having a hm-iznntat bottom arrangvtl in the same horimntal plant, (a tios in the, bottom of said tlmunalgamating (fUlilPdlltIlBHlS, mouhan all means for propelling the mercury over the bottom of saitl compartments in a horizontal plane, Without lifting the mercury, said means oonq'u'islng a series of IllllJPtl drums 

